(Washington,
DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide
Branch are investigating a homicide that occurred in the 200 block of
Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast on Thursday, March 2, 2017.

At
approximately 4:00 pm, Metro Transit Police were flagged for the report of an
assault. Upon arrival, members located an adult male unresponsive with
head injuries. DC Fire and EMS transported the victim to an area hospital
with life threatening injuries.

On
Friday, March 3, 2017, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced
dead. On Saturday, March 4, 2017, the
DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined
that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The manner of death
was ruled a homicide.

The
decedent has been identified as 41-year-old Desmond Joseph, of
Northeast, DC.

On
Thursday, March 2, 2017, a 36-year-old male, of Upper Marlboro, MD, was
placed under arrest and charged with Aggravated Assault.
Additional charges are pending review by the US Attorney’s Office for the
District of Columbia.